Runner’s Heel Pain Ruining Fun for NYC Marathoners

The Holy Grail of Marathons is 5 days away. Those 26.2 miles of running glory is sadly out of reach for many runners afflicted by runner’s foot also known as plantar fasciitis. Often serious runners must abandon their dreams of completing the N.Y.C. Marathon due to the pain.

There is hope in the form of a dull surgical stainless steel tool rubbed against painful areas called adhesions. The process of treating adhesions is known as the Graston Technique. These painful adhesions form in the fascia, which is the nerve rich covering of the muscles. The surface area of the fascia reacts to stresses placed upon it by developing a thickened skin. Think of your youth when you would forgo footwear during summer months to have the bottom of your feet toughen up. Fascia reacts much the same way, but the adhesions that develop have a rich concentration of nerves that heighten the physical stress and pain. The more stress placed on the fascia the greater the pain. A tough training regimen can over stress the fascia leading to a greater concentration of adhesions. The more stress begets more painful adhesions.

The Graston Technique uses a topical lubricant over the pain sites. The Graston Tool is rubbed over the lubricant to erase the adhesions in an ablative fashion. It causes mild irritation which allows for a reset of the fascia. The removal of the adhesions allows for greater mobility of the muscles affected and a noted reduction of pain. If caught early enough treatment with Graston can allow a runner to continue training. There are no side effects other then discomfort during the procedure. Graston appears to be a viable alternative to Nsaids which block pain but fail to address physical underlying condition.